Wire-fence machine.



PATENTBD APR. 30 1907.

I. N. MORFORD.

WIRE FENCE MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 11116.14, 1906.

. -LFEEEEEE?EEEEEW II /r .rl W E E ISAAC N. MORFORD, OF WAYNESVILLE,ILLINOIS.

WIRE-FENCE MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 30, 1907.

Application filed August 14,1906. Serial No. 330,608.

To ctZZ whm'n, it may concern:

Be it known that 1, Isaac N. Monronn, a citizen of the United States,residing at Waynesville, in the county of Dewitt and State of Illinois,have invented anew and useful Wire-Fence Machine, of which the followingis a specification.

The invention relates to improvements in wire fence machines.

The object of the present invention is to simplify and improve theconstruction of wire fence machines, more especially that shown anddescribed in Patent No. 821,112, granted tome May 22, 1906, and toenable the same to have a more substantial and direct hold on the topand bottom wires of a fence.

A further object of the invention is to provide a wire fence machine ofthis character, which will be capable of adjustment to suit anyconditions of ground, so that the wire stays" will be perfectly plumb,even when the ground is not level.

lVith these and other objects in view, the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination of parts hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the accompanying drawing, and pointed out in the claimshereto appended; it being understood that various changes in the form,proportion, size and mi nor details of construction, within the scope ofthe claims, may be resorted to without departing from the s irit orsacrificing any of the advantages of t 1e invention.

In the drawing :Figure 1 is a side elevation of a wire fence machine,constructed in accordance with this invention and shown applied to afence. Fig. 2 is a similar view, showing the opposite side of the wirefence machine. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of one of the crossheads of the machine. Fig. 4 is a detail view of the wire twisting tool.

Like numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in all thefigures of the drawing.

-1 and 2 designate standards or uprights, consisting of rods andconnected adjacent to their lower and upper ends by adjustable crossheads 3, consisting of castings and se cured to the standards oruprights 1 and 2 by set screws 1, or other suitable fastening devices.The cross heads, which are of double semi-circular shape, are dis osedhorizontally, and have curved sides anc are provided with anintermediate centrally arranged arm or portion 5, cast integral with thecross heads,

and terminating in a forked catch or portionv 6. The forked portions orcatches 6 are adapted to straddle a stay 7 at the upper and lower endsthereof, and they are arranged to engage the top and bottom line wires 8and 9 of the fence, and are interposed between the same to prevent thesaid top and bottom wires 8 and 9 from being drawn toward each other bythe twisting of the stay. The sides of the cross piece terminate in eyes10, which adjustably receive the uprights or standards, and which areadapted to slide on the same to enable the cross heads to be positionedproperly with relation to the top and bottom wires of the fence.

The standard or upri ht 1 is provided at intervals with hooks 11 forengaging the line wires of the fence, as clearly shown in Fig. 2 of thedrawing, and these hooks assist in holding the machine in engagementwith the fence. The machine is ad j ustably secured to the fence bymeans of a relatively fixed horizontally disposed U-shaped bar or member12, and a pivoted arm or member 13, which is adjustably secured at anintermediate point to the U-shaped bar or member, and which is providedat its outer end with terminal means for engaging one of the line wiresof the fence. The U-shaped bar or member consists of upper and lowerhorizontal portions secured at their inner ends to the standard orupright 1, and connected at their outer portions by an arcuate portion14, which is provided with an arcuate slot 15. The arm or member 13 issecured at its inner end by a pivot 16 to the standard or upright 1, andit extends beyond the arcuate portion of the U-shaped bar or member. Thesaid arm or member 13 is provided at an intermediate point with alongitudinal slot 17, which extends in advance and in rear of thearcuate portion of the U-shaped bar or memher. The bar or member 12 isadjustably secured to the bar or arm 13 by means of a bolt 18, or othersuitable fastening device, which is arranged in the slots 15 and 17 andwhich permits the machine to be adj ustcd to a perpendicular position,when constructing a fence on a hill side, or on other uneven ground. Bythis construction, the machine may be adjusted to suit any character ofground, so that the stays will be perfectly plumb or vertical. Thepivoted arm or member is provided at its outer end with a terminal fork19 for engaging the wire 20, which is retained in engagement with thefork by a pivoted latch 21, both of which parts are constructed the sameas those shown and described in the said patent.

The machine is operated the same as that shown and described in the saidpatent. Two stay wires are arranged at opposite sides of the line wires,and secured to the top and bottom line wires of the fence by twistingthem around the same. The wires of the stay are then twisted betweeneach of the line wires by means of a twisting tool 22, consisting of acentral body portion and opposite arms 25. The body portion is providedwith a centrally arranged slot 24, extending inwardly from one of theside edges of the tool to the center thereof. The arms 23 are providedwith openings 25, which enable the tool to be readily grasped andoperated. The tool is of a length to rotate between the uprights orstandards 1 and 2.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and desireto secure by Letters Patent, is

1. A wire fence machine comprising a pair of standards, means carried byone of the standards for engaging the fence wires, and horizontal crossheads disposed transversely of the fence and extending from one sidethereof and composed of opposite sides connected with the standards, anda central integral arm connected with the said sides and provided with aterminal fork arranged to engage a stay and adapted also to engage thetop and bottom wires of the fence to prevent the same from being drawntogether by the twisting of the stay.

2. A wire fence machine comprising a pair of standards, and horizontallydisposed substantially double semi-circular cross heads arrangedhorizontally and extending laterally from one side of the fence andcomposed of opposite sides secured to the standards, and a central armhaving terminal means for engaging a stay and a line wire of a fence.

3. A wire fence machine, comprising a pair of standards, means forconnecting the same, a substantially U shaped bar or member having anarcuate portion and secured to one of the standards, a pivoted armmounted on such standard and crossing the arcuate portion of the saidbar or member, the said arcu ate portion and the arm being provided withintersecting slots, a fastening device arranged in the intersectingslots for adj ustably securing the arm to the said arcuate portion, andterminal means carried by the arm for engaging the fence.

In testimony, that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have heretoaffixed my signature in the presence of two witnesses.

ISAAC N. MORFORD.--

Witnesses A. Tv LEE, WV. WV. FARMER.

